American exceptionalism lives on in the new electric Cadillac Escalade.
Have you noticed how many vexing engineering problems Americans have solved by simply adding more? In 1964, Pontiac wanted its LeMans coupe to be faster, so it squeezed in a massive V-8 and created the.
In the same decade NASA needed more power and more fuel to get humanity to the moon, so it developed the Saturn V to do the job. Boeing in its heyday did the same with its 747, a plane designed to transport more people and more cargo quicker than any other jet in the sky. It’s clear to us, then, the newwas engineered by a team who looked backward to solve some very modern problems, creating one of the most exceptionally ostentatious luxury vehicles of the electric era in the process., while the stretched IQL maintains the same size gap over the ESV. : two motors good for 750 hp and a massive 205-kWh battery pack—the largest currently fit in a passenger vehicle, giving the Escaladebatteries wired together in parallel—has another trick up its sleeve aside from size and range. On older charging infrastructure, like Tesla’s V3 Superchargers, it can max the chargers out for longer by presenting as a 400-volt pack, while on newer chargers it flips its battery “halves” into series to present one big 800-volt battery capable of charging at 352 kW in our testing and sustaining 254 kW in a 42-minute 5–80 percent charge, adding more than 335 miles in that time. Goodbye, range anxiety!But the Escalade IQ is more than just a big battery. Its dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain accelerates like a big-block V-8 with seemingly endless amounts of torque on tap , its standard air springs and MagneRide dampers help it ride nicely and corner well, and its steering is responsive, largely thanks to a four-wheel steering system, which helps the Escalade IQ drive far smaller than it actually is. For longer highway slogs, Super Cruise is standard and allows for hands-free driving in far more places than previously possible. That big footprint allowed Cadillac designers to unleash some of the best work we’ve seen on one of its production cars this century. The Escalade IQ’s sheetmetal clearly places it as the halo in the mainstream Cadillac hierarchy with modern LED lighting elements, tailfin-evoking rear lights, and a sweeping roofline. With beautifully stitched materials, wood and LED accents, and thoughtfully integrated screens, the cabin is perhaps the most luxurious we’ve seen in a Cadillac since we wrote these things with typewriters. We particularly liked the central command center for the driver and the passenger’s ability to turn their phone into a remote control with a simple QR code and Wi-Fi connection.The only major engineering misses, as far as we’re concerned, are both inside: the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto without a fully fleshed-out replacement is a boneheaded move that’ll only encourage more drivers to pick up their phones, and the second-row manual folding seats are clunky and inelegant, slamming down and forward when you operate them. Even so, it’s clear the tried-and-true solutions the Cadillac team used to solve 21st century problems have birthed one of the most compelling luxury vehicles in years. As our guest judge, industry expert Gordon Dickie, put it, “Welcome back, Cadillac.” This review was conducted as part of our 2026 SUV of the Year testing, where each vehicle is evaluated on our six key criteria: efficiency, design, safety, engineering excellence, value, and performance of intended function. Eligible vehicles must be all-new or significantly revised.I generally like writing—especially when it’s about cars—but I hate writing about myself. So instead of blathering on about where I was born or what type of cars I like , I’ll answer the one question I probably get most, right after what’s your favorite car : How’d you get that job? Luck. Well, mostly. Hard work, too. Lots of it. I sort of fell into my major of journalism/mass communication at St. Bonaventure University and generally liked it a lot. In order to complete my degree senior year, we had to spend our last two semesters on some sort of project. Seeing as I loved cars and already spent a good portion of my time reading about cars on sites such as Motor Trend, I opted to create a car blog. I started a Tumblr, came up with a car-related name , signed up for media access on a bunch of manufacturer’s websites, and started writing. I did everything from cover new trim levels to reviewing my friends’ cars. I even wrote a really bad April Fool’s Day post about the next Subaru Impreza WRX being Toyota-Corolla-based. It was fun, and because it was fun, it never felt like work. Sometime after my blog had gotten off the ground, I noticed that Motor Trend was hiring for what’s now our Daily News Team. I sent in my résumé and a link to my blog. I got the job, and two weeks after graduation I made the move from New York to California. I’ve been happily plugging away at a keyboard—and driving some seriously awesome hardware—ever since.
SUV Luxury SUV Electrics Inevitable
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Todd Snider, Beloved American Roots Musician, Dies at 59The music world mourns the loss of Todd Snider, a celebrated singer-songwriter known for his folk, rock, and country blend, who passed away at the age of 59. Snider's career included albums with Oh Boy Records, collaborative work, and a dedication to his craft and fellow musicians. His music has left a lasting impact on American roots music.
Read more »
Would You Rather Spend Over $400K On A Cadillac Celestiq Or A Rolls-Royce Ghost?Cadillac’s hand-built Celestiq outprices Rolls-Royce’s Ghost, but does it really outclass it?
Read more »
PBS Documentary on American Revolutionary War to Air on PBSA six-part documentary miniseries, co-directed by Sarah Botstein and David P. Schmidt, will air on PBS, exploring the events leading up to the American Revolutionary War and the birth of the nation. It will begin on November 16th and air one part every evening until November 23rd at 8 p.m. PT/ET.
Read more »
Todd Snider, American Singer-Songwriter Known for Wit, Dies at 59American singer-songwriter Todd Snider, celebrated for his sharp wit and genre-bending music, has passed away at 59. His career spanned three decades, leaving a lasting impact on the music world. Snider's final weeks were marked by a challenging period. He was known for his unique storytelling and collaborations with artists such as Loretta Lynn.
Read more »
The American Dream's Price Tag: Affordability and Consumer FrustrationThe article critiques the Trump administration's economic policies, particularly their impact on consumer affordability. The administration's focus on tariffs, reshoring, and immigration restrictions has led to rising prices and consumer frustration, conflicting with the American desire for affordable goods. The article highlights the disconnect between the administration's messaging and the economic realities faced by consumers.
Read more »
China’s New AI Toys Are Headed For American ShelvesAs AI toys make their way to American shelves, Newsweek spoke to experts about the new technology, and their potential impact on children.
Read more »